Is this a common H34 sole problem?

[Mike Oldak]

I found this picture on the site and noticed that the sole has the same soft/rotted spot as my H34, right between the engine and the ice box, at the tip of the panel.

I'm in the process of replacing all the teak and holly and was wondering if there is some issue which is causing this problem.

Leakage through the companion way? Ice box leakage? Water in the bilge or below the sole?

 

[Mike Oldak]

My port above the ice box had a lens that was cracked and needed to be replaced. When we put a hose on it it leaked right onto the sole. I finally replaced the lens and will run a hose over the area again to see if there is another leak.

 

[Andiamo 34]

I have a leak on the Starboard side deck plate when it rains heavy. It runs down the false ceiling to the side then follow the wall down behind the stove and comes out onto the floor right where to show the rot in your picture.

 

[RoyS]

I have a different boat but it originally had the same plywood veneer flooring. Mine was destroyed by rain coming through the companionway over the years. I replaced the entire cabin sole with a PlasDeck Vinyl product. This product is made for outside decks and should not be affected by rain or UV light. The photos below are before the flooring was glued down, just as it came from the factory made to a template I supplied to them.

 

[markwbird]

It's a common "old boat" problem. In this case, this section of the flooring is underneath the companionway which is not super water tight on the H-34. so not surprising. If your companionway is leaky there are ways to improve that.

 

[swshogren]

Have the same issue. Leaking portlight over the stove. The PO didn't replace the gaskets - just cranked down harder until the lens cracked. Also seem to have another leak in the area that PO didn't fix. The whole galley floor is rotting out. Will be replaced this fall.

FYI - when we bought our boat two years ago the whole sole of the cabin turned out to be on its last legs. From what I can tell - it was rot from the bottom up! (What's with the water that collects under the floor near the mast and never reaches the bilge pump!?!?) We have replaced it with a marine ply that was sealed in epoxy top, bottom sides to prevent future rot and then topped with and laminate flooring. Might consider adding epoxy to the bottom of your replacement floor before installation.

Good luck

SAM

 

[Capt Robbie]

usually that is a result from the companionway hatch leaking from rain that sometimes drips around the underside of the hatch. Because of the H34 common issue of listing to starboard. Some owners have routed groves into the top of the hatch to divert heavy rain towards the hatch boards.

 

[swshogren]

Capt Robbie
thanks for the heads up.... I'll look to see if that's were part of my problem lies.

 

[WasabiRush]

I have a different boat but it originally had the same plywood veneer flooring. Mine was destroyed by rain coming through the companionway over the years. I replaced the entire cabin sole with a PlasDeck Vinyl product. This product is made for outside decks and should not be affected by rain or UV light. The photos below are before the flooring was glued down, just as it came from the factory made to a template I supplied to them.
View attachment 208857View attachment 208858View attachment 208859

Roy,

Did you lay that down over the existing (old) flooring?

 

[RoyS]

I removed the old plywood flooring completely down to the fiberglass liner. The plywood came up with a lot of prying. The greater difficulty was removing the residual silicone caulking/adhesive that held it down. Careful scraping with razor blades and messy sanding with scotch pads eventually got it all off. The new vinyl flooring is almost the same thickness as the old plywood and fit nicely in the fiberglass liner recess.

 

[HMT2]

For those of you redoing your soles. I followed this technique when redoing mine and was very pleased with the results. Varnish Like A Pro Part 1 | Boatworks Today